Trooper shaken up in deadly crash on eastbound Courtney Campbell Causeway

TAMPA - Authorities responded to a deadly crash in the eastbound lanes of the Courtney Campbell Causeway after a motorcycle smashed into a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

There was a man and a woman the bike, and male victim died.  The woman was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital as a trauma alert.

As of  6:30 Thursday morning, she remained in critical condition.

The trooper was shaken up after the crash.

The trooper was in his patrol car conducting traffic control in the area, helping motorists around construction, when the motorcycle hit his car.

"There was a lane closure on the Courtney Campbell Causeway eastbound. The inside lane was closed," said Sgt. Steve Gaskins of FHP.

"The trooper was stationary in the lane and a high rate of speed motorcycle was coming eastbound and collided with the rear of the troopers car."

He sustained minor injuries, but he is okay.

Eastbound lanes were closed overnight as troopers investigated and all Courtney Campbell lanes were re-opened  after 3:00 Thursday morning.

The Florida Highway Patrol is still working to find out how and why the crash occurred.